Background:

The Public Transport Authority (PTA) is undertaking a High-Capacity Signalling (HCS) Project to replace the existing Transperth rail network signalling and control system with a state-of-the-art radio-based in-cab system. The new Automatic Train Control (ATC) system will allow increased service frequencies to meet the rail demand forecast under long-term transport planning.

PTA will deliver the HCS Project under an Alliance contract model and is currently in the late stage of the associated procurement process; having nominated a Preferred Proponent. Subject to the successful conclusion of negotiations with the Preferred Proponent and required approvals, the PTA will award delivery and maintenance contracts in mid-2024.

The scope of the HCS Project includes:

• replacement of the existing ‘fixed-block’ signalling system with a ‘moving-block’ ATC system for safe operation of trains at shorter intervals, enabling capacity increases;
• provision of an automatic train supervision and regulation system to replace the existing Train Control System with higher levels of efficiency and automation;
• semi-automatic train operation, supporting drivers to achieve more consistent and punctual services;
• simplified secondary signalling for operation of ATC-unfitted third-party trains (e.g., Indian Pacific, freight trains);
• replacement of the PTA’s life-expired signalling assets system for improved safety of train operations; and
• a reduction of field signalling equipment for higher reliability and a reduced maintenance requirement.

Scope of Services:

The PTA is seeking Reliability, Availability, Maintainability and Safety (RAMS) assurance engineering services to support the PTA’s Project Management Engineering Team (PMET) in the delivery of the HCS Project.

The Consultant is to provide appropriately experienced and qualified personnel (the ‘Consultant Personnel’) to join the PTA’s “HCS Project Team”.

The Consultant Personnel will lead the execution of RAMS responsibilities for the PTA’s PMET and work closely with the Alliance Project Team.

The Consultant Personnel will be expected to have performed similar roles on complex rail signalling system projects and have a demonstrated ability in RAMS engineering in complex rail signalling system projects for public transport organisations. Under the direction of the PTA’s HCS Technical Lead, the Consultants shall provide advice and support services to perform activities related to the coordination of PTA engineering activities, and the integration of the HCS systems into the PTA’s operational and maintenance environment. The Consultant Personnel will provide technical advice, leadership and support in the planning, engineering, stakeholder engagement and assurance activities associated with the PMET’s deliverables. The Consultant Personnel will be expected to support and take the lead on initiatives as delegated by the PTA’s HCS Technical Lead to ensure successful implementation of the HCS Project.

The scope of work for the proposed RAMS Services has been developed based on the SWTR documentation and relevant HCS Project Management Plans.

The HCS Project has previously undertaken Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability (RAM) and Safety planning during earlier project stages. This included RAM modelling and analysis, as well as procurement phase railway level Preliminary Hazard Analysis (PHA) with associated RAM and Safety requirement derivation.

The Consultant will be required to:

• undertake a review of Alliance deliverables, by providing feedback and working collaboratively with the PTA and Alliance teams to address outcomes.
• assist the PTA and Alliance teams in updating and integrating the resultant RAM and Safety requirements into the railway level requirements baseline;
• assist the PTA with proposing safety risk acceptance criteria, developing hazard rates for the identified safety requirements and producing suitable documentation. This includes preparing an early draft of the railway level operational safety case for the project; and
• ensure that the Alliance’s concept, reference and detailed designs meet the RAM and Safety requirements and provide clear evidence that all specified standards in engineering plans related to RAM and Safety Assurance, including EN 50126 and PTA’s EM4P, are complied with.

The Consultant must have experience in complex signalling system projects and a proven track record of delivering RAMS services for major public transport organisations.

The PTA is seeking RAMS engineering support services in the following ‘Specialist’ areas:

• Reliability, Availability, and Maintainability; and
• Safety Assurance.

The RAMS engineering Services will include:

• delivering comprehensive Project Engineering services as outlined in PTA Engineering Management for Projects (PTA doc. 8110-100-013);
• offering Subject Matter Expert advice as needed by the HCS Technical Lead;
• revising and updating the project owner’s RAM planning and RAM analysis documentation;
• deriving RAM requirements and including them in the railway level requirements baseline;
• revising and updating the project owner’s Safety planning documentation as required;
• creating or updating the Quantified Safety Risk Acceptance criteria report that describes the methodology and quantitative criteria in the context of the overall ATC safety risk acceptance criteria;
• arranging and facilitating a delivery phase railway level Safety Hazard Analysis (SHA), to obtain suitable operational input, ensuring all key railway level safety functions are identified across the scope of the HCS Project;
• identifying the elements of the system functionality that present relatively high safety assurance risk, and conducting a trade-off study on the available mitigation options;
• executing and updating a fault tree analysis to derive Tolerable Hazard Rates (THRs) for each of the system hazards identified in the System Hazard Analysis (SHA), based on input from the project Alliance;
• publishing a Technical-System Safety Requirements Report to present the derived safety requirements, including supporting fault tree analysis, in coordination with the Alliance Safety Assurance team;
• producing an early draft of the Railway level (operational) safety case to obtain early feedback on the safety arguments, scope and structure of the operational safety case;
• conducting reviews of, and providing input to, the HCS Project engineering deliverables from a RAMS perspective;
• representing the project at executive and external stakeholder forums in relation to RAMS matters;
• providing regular and timely updates to deliverable progress and/or identification of new work items to the HCS Technical Team Lead;
• providing general RAMS support to the HCS Project and Alliance as required;
• leading/facilitating Safe Working Group sessions;
• providing coordination and support for the Independent Safety Assessor activities, including discussion and support of PTA’s safety case arguments;
• providing advice to PTA on any ISA scope issues with respect to RAM;
• attending and supporting PTA at any meetings with ONRSR as required;
• providing ad hoc RAM and safety assurance support for the Radio Replacement and PTOCC projects as part of the HCS Program; and
• performing any other duties as directed by the HCS Technical Lead and commensurate with their qualifications.

The minimum required competencies for conducting this task are:

• experience in conducting RAMS analysis and modelling for complex rail technology systems, including CBTC systems, in the Australian railway context;
• experience in safety assurance and requirements engineering for safety-related systems, in accordance with the requirements of EN 50126; and
• experience with writing and reviewing RAM and Safety Assurance documentation from CBTC suppliers.